Ribbon package and reel



April 22, 1%2. E F KE 2,239,222

RIBBON PACKAGE AND REEL Filed July 17, 1937 INVENTOR EDWARD FUNKE ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 22, 1941 angers RIBBGN PACKAGE AND REEL Application July 1'7, 1937, Serial No. 154,157

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a ribbon or narrow fabric package and reel and particularly relates to a ribbon or narrow fabric package and reel which may be conveniently utilized both for displaying and selling ribbon in connection with notion departments or ribbon counters in stores.

In displaying ribbon, or similar narrow fabrics, it is most desirable that they be displayed in such a manner that only a limited portion of it be subject to dirt and dust and spoiling, which portion should be the first portion to be dispensed or sold in connection. With each sale.

At the same time, it is desirable that the body of the ribbon be kept out of contact with dirt and dust and be conveniently positioned on the counter readily available for removal of the ribbon in various lengths without requiring unreeling of a large quantity of ribbon or the handling of the entire package by either the sales person or the purchaser.

It is, furthermore, desirable that means be provided for convenient inventory or check of the amount of ribbon which has been sold or which is still in stock.

It is, therefore, among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved ribbon package and reel construction which will enable the ribbon to be most readily dispensed with exposure of only a relatively small portion thereof for display purposes and which package may be manufactured at a minimum of expense, and will not substantially increase the cost of mercham dising or selling the ribbons.

A further object is to provide an improved package or reel for the display, selling or merchandising of ribbons which may be conveniently used in connection with notion counters in stores.

Other objects will be obvious or will become apparent during the cours of the following specification.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactory to place the ribbon upon a reel, which reel preferably has a central pivotal element and two side flanges spaced apart to correspond with the width of the ribbon. One side flange is preferably provided with a radially extending slot, the side edges of which slot are graduated to show the length of the ribbon remaining upon the reel.

The box itself is of sufiicient height to receive a variety of spools and may be of a size so that its width will be slightly greater than the diameter of the spool, so that when the ribbon is drawn from the spool, the interior side walls of the box will substantially centrally pivot said spool.

The upper edge of the box adjacent one corner is preferably slotted and the side wall below said slot is preferably provided with a tang or cut portion by means of which the ribbon may be held.

It is also desirable to provide a central finger hold by which the box containing the reel may be removed from the counter or recess therein, but it is generally desirable to provide a piece of paper at this finger hold which is connected by perforated connection tothe top of the box so that this piece of paper may be readily pushed out of position, when and if it becomes necessary to remove the package from the box receiving recesses in the counter.

I The top of the box may also be provided with radial slots or tangential slots which respectively will expose the meter or measuring scale of the reel and also the color and appearance of the ribbon between the point where it leaves the reel and the point where it comes out of the slot.

The provision of slots, however, is generally not desired in view of the fact that it is desirable to enclose the spool as much as possible and eliminate its contact with dirt and dust which could enter through openings at the top of the box when the package is kept upon the counter for long periods of time.

In displaying the ribbon, it isusu-ally most satisfactory to remove a small portion from the box and place it upon the top of the box, this portion being, of course, the first portion which will be cut off and sold upon further purchase. As a result, no one portion of ribbon Willbe exposed for a long period of time before being sold.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanymg drawing, will illustrate a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

Referring to. the drawing: 7

Figure 1 is a top view of one form of reel according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top perspective view of one form of reel and box construction which may be employed for dispensation of the ribbon.

Figure 4 is a top perspective view illustrating how'the box may be utilized in connection with a display on a counter.

Referring to the drawings of Figures 1 and 2,

the reel consists of the top flange l t and the bottom flange H which is designedv to turn upon the metal pivot sleeve l2. The metal pivot l2 has the outturned flanges l3 and I4 engaging the flanges l and H and has a central cylindrical portion [5 upon which is fitted the spacer annulu [6.

Upon the spacer annulus I5 is wound the ribbon or other narrow fabric '1.

One of the flanges, for example, flange I0, is provided with a slot N3, the sides of which are graduated as indicated at I9 and 20, said slot extending radially from the annulus IE to a point 2| short of the periphery of the flange Ill.

The slot I8 enables ready checking of the amount of ribbon which has been left upon the annulus l6 and permits ready inventory.

The box B which is designed to receive the reel A has a top face 22, side walls 23 and 24, the back wall 25 and the fiap cover 26 which cover cooperates with the side end cover flaps 21 and 28 forming extensions of the side walls 23 and 24.

The main flap forms an extension of the top wall 22. The bottom wall 29 is provided with side extensions 30 which, as indicated best at the right hand side of Figure 3, are glued at the inside faces of the side walls 23 and 24.

The side of the box adjacent the corner 3| of the box is provided with a slot 32 through which may be passed the end 33 of the ribbon which ribbon may be held under the tab 34, said tab being cut into the side wall 23.

By releasing the ribbon end 33 from under the tab 34, it may be readily drawn ofi the spool A through the slot 32 without twisting or turning.

The spacer between the periphery of the flanges l9 and H and between the side walls 23, 24, 25 and the closed cover 26 is such as to substantially centrally pivot said spool when the ribbon is drawn out through the slot 32.

The spacer element 35 is designed to enable the box A to accommodate various widths of ribbon or narrow fabric I7 and the various heights of spools A and it is provided with downwardly converging side flanges 36 which provide a resilient rest for the reel A when the ribbon is drawn out through the slot 32. l

The spool A is preferably held as close to the top wall 32 of the box B, as possible, by said spacer 35.

The ribbon is normally placed in the box B and closed therein by closure of the flaps 26, 21, 28, and is thus retained in air-tight and dust-tight condition throughout dispensation.

In some cases, however, it is possible to provide slots 3! and 38, and the central finger hold 39, but it is often undesirable to provide such slots and openings since this will permit gathering of dust and dirt inside of the box B.

The openings, if desired, may be formed by leaving the paper in position and merely scoring.

the outline of the openings so that by pressure the paper may be pressed out of position.

It will be noted that the slot 38 is so arranged as to expose the graduations l8 and I9 at least once during each rotation of the spool A and the slot 31 exposes a short length of ribbon I! as it is being drawn through the slot 32.

The opening 39consists of a finger hold which enables a finger to be placed in position and the box to be removed from the depressed receivers or pockets 3311 as indicated in Figure 4. These pockets are formed by a series of longitudinal boards 40 and transverse boards 4| which are held in position on the counter 42 by the finger members 43.

It will be noted, as shown in Figure 4, a neat and convenient display is obtained which will permit the ribbons to be readily dispensed, and permit ready access thereto. The tabs 34 may not be used except when desired, but if they are used a sufficient space should be provided in the counter arrangement shown in Figure 4, to permit the finger to be placed along the side of the box and the ribbon to be inserted at the back of the tab 34.

It is apparent that the specific illustrations shown above have been given by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that the structures above described are subject to wide variation and modification without departing from the scope or intent of the invention, all of which variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A package for dispensation, merchandising and display of ribbons including a rectangular box, a slot at one corner of said box through which the ribbon may be dispensed and a reel for dispensing ribbon comprising a central pivotal member upon which the reel of ribbon is to be wound and two side members, one of said side members being provided with a slot having an indicator showing the total amount of ribbon upon the reel and the amount which has been consumed, said box being provided with a radial opening enabling exposure of said indicator as said reel is turned within said box and said box being also provided with U-shaped filler formed of bent cardboard to hold said indicator adjacent said opening.

2.-A package for dispensation, merchandising and display of ribbons including a rectangular box, a slot at one corner of said box through which the ribbon may be dispensed and a reel for dispensing ribbon comprising a central pivotal member upon which the reel of ribbon is to be wound and two side members, one of said side members being provided with a slot having an indicator showing the total amount of ribbon upon the reel and the amount which has been consumed, said indicator consisting of a scale radially positioned upon the reel, said box being provided with a radial opening enabling exposure of said indicator as said reel is turned within said box and said box being also provided with U-shaped filler formed of bent cardboard to hold said indicator adjacent said opening.

3. A package for dispensation, merchandising and display of ribbons including a rectangular box, a slot at one corner of said box through which the ribbon may be dispensed and a reel for dispensing ribbon comprising a central pivotal member upon which the reel of ribbon is to be wound and two side members, one of said side members being provided with an indicator showing the total amount of ribbon upon the reel and the amount which has been consumed, said indicator consisting of a slot radially positioned on the side flange of the reel, said box being provided with a radial opening enabling exposure of said indicator as said reel is turned within said box and said box being also provided with U-shaped filler formed of bent cardboard to hold said indicator adjacent said opening.

4. A package for dispensation, merchandising and display of ribbons including a rectangular box, a slot at one corner of said box through which the ribbon may be dispensed and a reel for dispensing ribbon comprising a central piv- 7 otal member upon which the reel of ribbon is to be wound and tWO side members, one of said side members being provided with an indicator showing the total amount of ribbon upon the reel and the amount which has been consumed, said indicator consisting of a slot extending radially between the center and periphery of the reel and provided at one edge with graduations indicating the yardage of the ribbon, said box being provided with a radial opening enabling exposure of said indicator as said reel is turned within said box and said box being also provided with means to hold said indicator adjacent said opening.

5. A package for dispensation, merchandising and display of ribbons comprising a rectangular box, a slot at one corner of said box through which, the ribbon may be dispensed, a reel within the box from which the ribbon may be dispensed and a cut out portion on the exterior side wall of the box by which the loose end of the ribbon may be held, said reel being provided with an indicator and said box being provided with a slot to expose said indicator once during each rotation of the reel, and said box being provided with means to press said indicator against said slot.

6. Ribbon or other narrow fabric display arrangements comprising a container having a fabric supply compartment and a fabric display compartment, said supply compartment having a reel for the fabric and a slotted opening through which the fabric may be withdrawn for dispensing the fabric or for arranging the same in said display compartment, said display compartment being positioned above said supply compartment, said compartments having side walls common thereto, said supply compartment having a solid top wall, which constitutes the bottom wall of said display compartment, said slotted opening being horizontally positioned on the side of said supply compartment below said bottom wall of said display compartment.

EDWARD FUNKE. 

